About us
Who we are
RC-DARF (Relief Committee for Destitute and All Refugee Families) is a community-centered nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through empowerment, education, collaboration, and compassionate service.
While our roots are grounded in supporting refugees and immigrant families, our work has evolved to address the broader needs of the communities we serve. We believe that every community has unique strengths, as well as gaps that deserve attention. Whether through youth leadership initiatives, family support services, mental health and wellness programs, refugee assistance, cultural engagement, or community partnerships, we strive to create opportunities that help individuals and families thrive.
Our approach is simple: we listen, we collaborate, and we respond. By working alongside community members, local organizations, and public institutions, we develop programs that are thoughtful, culturally responsive, and shaped by the people they are intended to serve.
Our goal is not only to provide support today, but to help build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities for generations to come.
Our Mission
To strengthen communities by empowering individuals and families through education, community engagement, humanitarian support, youth and family development, and collaborative programs that respond to evolving community needs.
Our vision
We envision resilient, inclusive communities where every individual and family has the opportunity to thrive, participate, and contribute. Through collaboration, empowerment, and equitable access to resources, we aspire to create communities where people of all backgrounds feel supported, connected, and empowered to shape their own futures.
Our focus Areas
Youth Empowerment
Creating opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills, strengthen their voices, support their mental well-being, and become active participants in shaping their communities.
Family Empowerment
Connecting families with educational resources, community services, supportive programming, and opportunities that strengthen family well-being and resilience.
Refugee & Immigrant Support
Helping refugee and immigrant families navigate resources, build meaningful community connections, and successfully establish and strengthen their lives.
Community Engagement
Building partnerships with local organizations, schools, government agencies, and residents to address community needs through collaborative action.
Education and Economic Opportunity
Supporting lifelong learning, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, and opportunities that help individuals achieve long-term stability.
Community Well-Being
Supporting lifelong learning, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, and opportunities that help individuals achieve long-term stability.
Our journey
Founded in Afghanistan in 2005, RC-DARF spent more than fifteen years implementing humanitarian, development, and community-based initiatives across the country. Following the events of August 2021, the organization's leadership relocated to the United States and established RC-DARF as a registered nonprofit in New York in 2022.
While our geographic focus has expanded, our core values have remained the same: responding to community needs with compassion, partnership, and sustainable solutions. Today, RC-DARF continues that mission by serving diverse communities throughout New York while drawing upon decades of international experience.
Our Impact & experience
Drawing on more than two decades of experience, RC-DARF has implemented projects across a wide range of humanitarian and community development sectors. Some of these initiatives are highlighted below.
Health & Community Outreach
From November 2005 to February 2006, RC-DARF, with the assistance of a team of volunteer doctors, initiated a complimentary mobile health clinic, generously funded by RC-DARF, to conduct a comprehensive survey of 500 families residing in the 5th district of Kabul. The primary objective was to detect and diagnose cases of Tuberculosis and Malaria among the populace. Diagnosed individuals were supported throughout their treatment journey, along with financial aid, food provisions, and transportation assistance.
Emergency Response
RC-DARF has responded to emergencies by providing immediate relief while conducting community needs assessments to guide longer-term recovery efforts.In May 2014, a landslide in Argo District, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, buried parts of three villages, tragically killing hundreds. In response, the RC-DARF emergency team provided clothing for women and children and food to 30 families. They also conducted a needs assessment survey, producing a report shared with donors for further assistance.
COVID-19 Community Response
During the COVID-19 pandemic, RC-DARF worked to support vulnerable communities through public health awareness, preventive education, and essential resource distribution. The organization conducted COVID-19 awareness sessions for women in Paghman and Kabul's 5th District, distributed masks, gloves, and soap to help reduce the spread of the virus, and collaborated with Community Health Workers to assist infected individuals by providing quarantine guidance, basic care information, and referrals to local health facilities when needed.
Food Distribution
In January 2010, RC-DARF partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) to distribute food packages to 380 returnee and internally displaced families in Nimroz Province, Afghanistan. This initiative helped address immediate food insecurity while supporting vulnerable households during a period of transition and displacement.
